2006 Toyota Camry LE 3.0L from North America
Summary:
A bad choice
Faults:
We have a 2006 Camry V6 and since the first day, the transmission shifts jerky at low speed. Slow down to 8-10 mph (like at a yield) and press the as normal and the car will jerk hard as it downshifts from second to first. Think of a young kid learning to drive a clutch. That is the best way to describe this. The other problem with the transmission is the long pause when it shifts from first to second. It feels strange, but we can live with it. We also notice there is a delay between the time you press the gas and when the car actually picks up speed. From a stop, press the gas and the car will move and a few seconds later it will take off as if you had pressed the pedal to the floor. The bigger problem comes when passing on the freeway. You see a gap and floor it, but nothing happens for 3-5 seconds. I think this is because there is no longer a cable from the gas pedal to the engine..it's all done by computer now. We took it to the dealer and they say nothing is broken so they can't fix it. They claim the computer has adapted to my wife's driving style. I disagree because I rented a Camry and it drove the same way. I agree that it might not be broken, but the drive by wire design is flawed and should be updated. Toyota would have to do that, but all indications are that they have no plans to update the computer program. My 99 Camry with 160,000 miles had better throttle response and shifted smoother than this car does!
General Comments:
Difficult to drive in stop & go traffic.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 28th December, 2006
24th Mar 2011, 15:58
I have a 2006 Camry with about 90,000 miles now. It was *built in Japan* (J serial number), not US. It has a manual transmission, 4-cylinder engine. The car has been flawless! Has not even needed brake pads yet. Only maintenance items: oil changes, tires, headlight bulb, and wiper refills - that's it. The thing is almost as good on gas as a hybrid. The Camry trunk is huge, and the back seat is spacious.
I also have a 2007 4-cylinder FWD Highlander with about 70,000 miles. All of these were made in Japan (not USA). Again - flawless! Yes, with the automatic it is not quick and gas MPG is down. As a so-called SUV, it doesn't have a plush ride. And it actually has no more utility to carry things than the Camry. The one difference is that you sit up high, which has some benefits. Again, zero repairs, only maintenance. I'd buy another in an instant (but I have no interest in the up-sized V6 newer version).
Anyone reading these comments should be wary of posts that talk about how much better some other car brand is in comparison. Doesn't sound like a credible post to me. Go to the Buick or Ford area to find out about them.
24th Jan 2007, 13:22
You have perfectly described the major flaws of the camry. I own a 05 camry and the is exactly what it drives like. my solution to the throttle response delay is to step on the gas 2 to 3 seconds before I intend to merge or change lanes. I also find that turning off the overdrive helps the jerkyness in stop and go traffic. when I have to slow down and cruise at a slow speed (about 5 to 15 mph) I simply decrease my speed by stepping on the brake, rather than allowing the car to cruise to the slower speed. the transmission seems to shift down faster that way.